Speed regulator for automobiles



July 23, 1940. H. M. THIELE SPEED REGULATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES Filqd Sept. 22, 1938 P mm W H t'tCIT'I'lEHS Patented july 23, I p v UNITED STATES PATENT} OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention refers to speed regulators for automobiles.

Under existing conditions, touring automobiles travel through the country at short intervals, running through localities where speed restrictions vary widely. It is with this in view that I have provided a simple mechanical control, which will set and hold the speed of. the vehicle constant with the requirements of the locality through which the vehicle is traveling, and this regulation of the speed will thus eliminate the mental hazard of the operator in keeping the vehicle down to the speed demanded.

With the above object in view, the invention primarily provides a simple and effective means for regulating a selected speed by manually locking the carburetor valve or accelerator in set position corresponding to the speed of the vehicle which may be desired, such selected speed being determined by inspection of the speedometer.

The specific object of my invention is to provide a tappet associated with the valve actuating,

mechanism and a shiftable runner in juxtaposition with the same, which runner carries a tap-- pet which may bemanually placed and locked in engagement with the tappet, whereby further acceleration is prevented until such time as the runner and stop finger carried thereby are shifted. With the above and other minor objects in view, the invention consists in certain pecularities of construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the accompanying drawing, and subsequently claimed.

The drawing illustrates a diagrammatic elevation of any standard carburetor and associated accelerator, together with a shiftable finger for engagement with a tappet carried by the accelerator rod, all of which parts specifically define the operation of the invention.

Referring by characters to the drawing, l represents the carburetor, 2 the valve arm thereof, and 3 a rod extending from the arm in connection with a foot crank 4 with the front portion 5 of an automobile.

Adjustably secured to the accelerator rod 3 is a disc or tappet 6, and for the purpose of illustration, a runner I is arranged parallel to and independent of the rod 3 slidable in bearings provided therefor. The runner extends through an opening 8 in the panel of the vehicle, and the end of said runner is formed with a plurality of notches constituting a rack 9, which thimble terminates with a push-and-pull button Ii), which is provided with-a light bulb therein (not shown).

The serrations in the thimble are adapted to engage a spur 9', whereby the runner is temporarily held against movement in any one of a series of fixed positions. The runner 1 is provided with an adjustable stop finger l I arranged in the path of travel of the tappet 6, and said 5 finger is alSO provided with a short section coil spring l2, which serves under conditions to permit a slight yield when the tappet and finger are engaged. The light globe within the button I0 is connected by a wire l3 to the stop finger II, and 10 also by a wire I3 to the tappet 6, it being understood that in this circuit is a suitable battery or electric energy, whereby the button It is illuminated as a visual signal.

From the foregoing description, it will be 15 understood that should the driver select, for example, a speed of thirty-five miles: an hour, as required in a certain district, the accelerator pedal is manipulated, whereby the carburetor valve will develop a sufficient volume of gas to 20 reduce the speed of the Vehicle to thirty-five miles an hour, which speed will be ascertained by an inspection of the speedometer. When such speed is reached, the driver will push the button [2 backward until the stop finger engages the tappet 6, and when such engagement is effected, one of the serrations in the thimble 9 will engage the plate 9' and lock the runner 1 at this point.

When the above movement takes place, the tappet or its spring section I I will engage the tap- 30 pet 6, whereby the warning circuit is closed, and the lamp will glow in the head. Ill. Thus, no further attention of the driver is required as to speed, and the dangers of inadvertently running at a higher speed is overcome. 35 Obviously, a lower speed can also be controlled in the usual manner. However, should the driver in climbing a hill desire more power, it is possible for him to actuate the accelerator mechanism slightly, whereby the desired additional 40 power is obtained, and this slight further movement above the selected speed is obtained due to the fact that the spring l2 of the stop finger will permit a slight forward movement of the rod 3, as indicated by the arrow. In certain instances, however, this slight yield between the contact parts 6 and II may be dispensed with.

The signal light may be eliminated in some cases, or other signal means may be employed. 0

It is understood that the essential feature of the invention is the principle involved whereby the accelerator mechanism is locked to regulate a predetermined speed of the vehicle, whereby the operator can eliminate any concentration upon 55 the speed of the vehicle, as the device insures a uniform regulation.

While I have shown and described one exemplification of my invention minutely as to de- 5 tails, it is understood that I may vary this structure Within the scope of the claim.

I claim:

A speed regulator for automobiles comprising, a carburetor valve arm, a rocking foot crank, a 10 rod connecting the foot crank and valve arm, an

adjustable tappet mounted upon the rod, a reciprocative runner mounted in bearings paralleling the rod and in juxtaposition thereto, an adjustable finger mounted upon the runner in the path of travel of the tappet, a bumper spring carried by the finger and adapted to yieldably engage said tappet, and an actuating handle having a plurality of notches mounted upon the end of the runner and adapted to engage and temporarily lock the runner in its adjusted position with relation to a fixed plate.

l I-IELMU'IH M. THIELE. 

